Joe’s Real BBQ Review: Pecan-Smoked Barbecue in Downtown Gilbert

By Jake Rockwell & Sherrie Rockwell

Pricing: $$
Ambiance: Casual, counter service, family-friendly
Food: BBQ, Smoked Meats, Scratch Sides
Drinks: Fountain Soda, Root Beer Floats, Beer & Wine

Joe’s Real BBQ is at 301 N Gilbert Rd in the Heritage District, right behind Topo. It’s a casual, order-at-the-counter barbecue joint and it’s an easy pick for lunch or a family dinner.

The Barbecue

Joe’s smokes everything over Arizona pecan wood, with no gas or electric smokers. The meat list is long: brisket (chopped in sauce or sliced), pulled pork, St. Louis pork ribs, pit ham, chicken breast, bone-in dark meat chicken, turkey breast, hot link sausage, turkey jalapeño sausage, and a spicy jackfruit option for vegetarians.

You can get it as a BBQ sandwich ($15), a jumbo hoagie with one or two meats ($16), a meat plate with cornbread ($18), or the four-meat sampler of ribs, chicken, brisket and pork ($22). Ribs come by the half slab ($21) or full slab ($32). For a group, Joe’s Big BBQ Feast ($85) feeds four with ribs, pork, brisket, sausage, sides, cornbread, buns and two smoked jumbo baked potatoes.

Sides and Sweets

All 12 sides are made in-house and run $4 each, including BBQ pit beans, mac ‘n cheese, cheesy potatoes, coleslaw, a spicy citrus slaw, sweet corn, potato salad, braised greens and a fresh beet salad. For dessert there’s lemon cake, root beer cake, cobbler, cookies and root beer floats.

Good to Know

Open every day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Kids 12 and under get a sandwich or ribs with an adult-sized side and a homemade cookie for $8 to $10. You can order online for takeout, and there are curbside pickup spots when they’re open. Beer and wine are available too.

Who It’s For

Families, lunch crowds and anyone who wants solid, no-frills barbecue in Downtown Gilbert. Most plates land between $15 and $22, which is easy on the wallet for Downtown Gilbert.

Photo: T.Tseng, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Stock image, not taken at this restaurant.